Palace saddened by death of woman waiting for ride to Bicol, vows to assist stranded Filipinos

Malacañang on Thursday vowed to assist stranded Filipinos in Metro Manila amid the lockdown following the case a woman in Pasay City who died while reportedly waiting for a bus ride to her hometown in Bicol.

At a televised press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque expressed grief over the death of Michelle Silvertino, a single mom who left behind four kids aged 3 years to 11 in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

“Wala pong gustong mangyari ito pero gagawa na po tayo ng paraan para hindi na po maulit ang nangyari kay Michelle,” Roque said.

Silvertino, 33, worked as a household help in Antipolo City in Rizal and was brought to Cubao bus terminal by her employers when Metro Manila transitioned from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ).

Provincial buses, however, are still not allowed to operate under GCQ, prompting Silvertino to walk to another bus terminal in Pasay City where she died reportedly after staying on an overpass for five days.

Police said Silvertino tested positive for COVID-19, but Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said she had yet to be swabbed for confirmatory testing.

“Nagulat nga po kami na nangyari ito. If we can move back time…iyong barangay officials, pinuna pala siya na stranded roon, dapat meron silang ginawa, o iyong city hall,” Roque said.

Roque assured the public that the incident will not happen again, and that measures to assist the stranded individuals have already been put in place.

“Na-deploy na po ang DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) at National Task Force para maghanap ng mga stranded, para maiwasan po ang ganyang trahedya. Nakakalungkot po talaga,” he said.

“Nakikipag-ugnayan na rin po NTF sa Department of Transportation para maging temporary shelter ang Villamor Air Base para po sa ating mga stranded na kababayan habang wala pa pong biyahe ang provincial buses,” Roque added.

Asked on how the stranded individuals will be able to secure sweeper flights, Roque said they should coordinate with the nearest DSWD office for help.

“Makipagugnayan po sila sa pinakamalapit ng opisina ng DSWD para hindi sila magutom, mabigyan sila ng ayuda sa pang-araw araw at lugar na matitirhan,” he said. --KBK, GMA News